COMMUNITY NEWS
Ellerslie AFC
Ellerslie AFC development programs pay off At Ellerslie AFC we pride ourselves on focusing on players needs for growth – including all aspects of football. Our Football Coaching Directors are always looking for new programs and resources to help teach and develop our players. One particular program of interest is the clubs new Futsal academy run by club coach Ben Hill –Futsal is a massive growth sport in NZ and a crucial part of a football education. The main goal of our Futsal academy is to introduce young players to the different skill sets and then integrate them into existing competitions run by the likes of East City (at ASB Stadium in Kohimaramara). This course supplements our football academy which Junior/Youth Director of Coaching Ryan Shiffman oversees each Friday (in school terms). A number of players have come through this academy already to our Men’s U19’s, Reserves and First Team – and we have attracted professional clubs attentions as well with a number of our players having been on trials. More information here: http://www. ellersliefootball.org.nz/developmentcourses.
phpIn the Senior environment our Director of Coaching Chris Wallace is turning to video analysis to help develop his players – with the assistance of a program called Hudl he can analyse and improve a players technique, game understanding and team play drastically. This is our first season using the program and we hope we can roll it out to the Youth section of the club in coming seasons. In the girls and women’s side of the club our development team of Haley Gleeson (Juniors) and Jason Oliver (Seniors) have been working hard on attracting numbers to the club – in the Seniors we have grown by one whole team from last year and added a lot of quality into our three existing teams in the process. Haley has also been focusing on development and with her contacts at NZ Football she has made the girls side of the club an exciting and fun place to be (check out the ellerslie_girls page on Instagram) If you’re interested in finding out more about the programs we offer email our club secretary Lynette Margison on secretary@ ellersliefootball.org.nz or pop onto our website www.ellersliefootball.org.nz.
Remuera Lions Club Grants from 2015 Magic Show
For 28 years, the Remuera Lions Club’s “World Festival of Magic” has entertained children and disabled people from throughout the Auckland region with six free shows performed by professional international magicians, at the ASB Showgrounds, just prior to Christmas. The shows are made possible from the generous donations received from business houses and individuals in the greater Auckland area. Surplus funds from this annual event are provided to charitable organisations throughout Auckland for the purchase of specific items, and since the Magic Show’s inception the Club has donated more than $3,100,000 in goods.
Recent notable donations have included: a quick response vehicle for the St. Johns Ambulance Association; a treatment room for the new facilities being built for the Hearing House in Greenlane, providing speech and hearing training for (mainly) young deaf children who have received cochlea transplants and 100+ car seats for Plunket’s seat hire scheme. In March a cheque for $25,000 was presented to the Middlemore Foundation on behalf of the Kids First Children’s Hospital, for specialised portable patient monitoring equipment, and in April a further $25,000 to the Blind Foundation for the training of Guide Dogs, all proceeds from the 2015 Magic Show. The 2016 Magic Show will take place at the Logan Campbell Centre, ASB Showgrounds on 17 & 18 December, and we are currently seeking suitable charitable organisations for funding. Funds cannot be provided for administrative purposes. A copy of the Club’s Funding Criteria will be provided on request and written applications may be made to the Magic Show Convenor, Remuera Lions Club Inc., P O Box 28061, Remuera, Auckland 1541.
Play Centre
What a busy Term 1 it has been for Ellerslie Playcentre. In March we celebrated Playcentre Awareness Week by holding a Play Cafe in the playground at Michael’s Avenue. Both Mount Wellington and Pakuranga Playcentres joined us and both children and adults had a fun morning face painting, bubble making, making amazing things with play dough and natural collage to name but a few activities. It was a great
For more information, check out our Face book page or email ellerslieplaycentre@hotmail.com
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opportunity for us to show the community how much fun Playcentre is and to invite them to join in. Playcentre also supports and extends our children’s learning and interests with trips and events. Last term we went to the Tip Top Factory (always a favourite!) and the Air New Zealand exhibition at Auckland Museum. St John Ambulance visited our centre and gave a great demonstration on first aid which the children
got involved in. Term 2 has got off to a busy start with our involvement in the ‘Chalk It Up’ event in Ellerslie Town Square. We will also be celebrating Matariki next month with our traditional lantern walk from our Centre. It is always nice to be out and about in the community. Ellerslie Playcentre is for children from birth to six. We follow the early childhood curriculum set in place by the Ministry of Education but with a Playcentre spin on it!